Friday Four: Hammond has Senators in playoff race

Thursday, 03.05.2015 / 10:40 PM | Kevin Weekes  - NHL Network Analyst

Each Friday throughout the regular season Kevin Weekes will be bringing you his Friday Four in his Weekes on the Web blog. He will be blogging about four players, teams, plays, trends or really four of whatever in the NHL that have caught his eye.

The goalie with the great nickname, his teammate that has raised his game, another goalie who tied an impressive record and two teams that know how to separate. It's all in this week's Friday Four.

Go …

1. 'Hamburglar'

Andrew Hammond, what a nickname. It makes perfect sense too. It's way better than “Hamster” or “Hammy.” Those would be normal hockey nicknames. “Hamburglar” is great, and I hope the McDonald's in Ottawa takes notice and does something with him. They are a League partner, too. Just saying.

Nonetheless, Hammond has been amazing. He has really transformed this team. That's the reality. The Senators were pretty much, you could say it, dead in the playoff race. He's got them back into some contention here. There's a sense of hope and belief. He's been awesome.

You're kind of a function of your team, but he's punching way above his weight. San Jose, L.A. and Anaheim, those are no walks in the park on the road. Not only did he sweep them, but he was composed.

So he's composed in the net. He's not overly huge, but he's got good enough size. He moves really well. He has good feet. He has a good butterfly base. He's athletic, and he battles. You see some of these second- and third-effort saves he has made; they've been incredible. When you put all of that together, that's a lot of elements to having a good goalie. All things being equal, he's a lot of fun to watch and speaking to guys in the organization, he's a guy to pull for.

Goalies sometimes take time to develop. His numbers in Binghamton of the American Hockey League weren't great, but Bingo's team isn't what it was either. Keep in mind Mike Hoffman is not on that team anymore and that's a difference.

The Senators are right there. They can do this thing. But if you're the Senators you have to ride “Hamburglar” now. He has single-handily gotten you back in the playoff race. They have to play him.

2. Hoffman has been great too

Sticking with the Senators, I have to give some love to Hoffman for how good he has been. He's been amazing. He's played so well.

He's lightning fast, but he has an amazing shot, a big-time NHL shot, wrister or slapper. But the key with him is he passes the puck so well too. It's not only that he can pound it, but he can pass it and that's making him more of a threat.

In all the pre-scouts, everybody is talking about not giving Hoffman any time and space, about gapping up on him. Sure, be tight, but he can beat you with a pass and find the open man. It’s something that has really impressed me in his game.

3. Frederik Andersen

Another guy I have to give some love to is Andersen for tying Bill Durnan's record for the fastest ever to 50 wins. He did it in 68 decisions, just like Durnan. That's beyond amazing. He's been a great story, period. He's been a great find.

We had a feeling what John Gibson was going to be, at least I did, but Andersen has been an amazing find and an amazing story.

Now put them together and I like their chances to win in the playoffs even though they don't have much experience. Gibson's pedigree is as a winner. He has always won. He won in the playoffs last year. More important for Andersen, who I think is the No. 1, he's excellent and he has to believe he's an excellent goalie in the playoffs. You can say the same thing for Gibson.

Your ability to stop a puck doesn't diminish just because it's the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Physically you still have the tools and traits. I don't think it's anything physical for them, so it's just mental, and if they believe going in that they're going to be great then why can't they play well?

Hey, you're only going to get experience by getting experience. That's the only way you're going to learn, so might as well let 'em go.

4. Rangers, Lightning and the plus-goal differential

The New York Rangers are a plus-42 in goal differential. The Tampa Bay Lightning are a plus-44. No other team is even close to them. That's just beyond whopping for both teams.

A few key things:

Each team has depth at all positions, and each bolstered its "D" based on the trades. Each can roll four lines. It's interesting that Anton Stralman, Brian Boyle and Ryan Callahan were part of the Rangers last season and now they're with the Lightning.

Each team can fly; if anything, I'd say the Rangers are even faster than the Lightning.

Tampa can throw out two amazing power-play units, and guys can play multiple positions on that power play.

Rick Nash for the Rangers.

Steven Stamkos for the Lightning.

The Triplets line for the Lightning.

But one of the things that is also impressive with these teams is that you see a lot of five-man units. The Rangers in the defensive zone, even though there are times when their forwards will break for a stretch pass, they're still in the picture and they come to support when needed so they can become an outlet on a breakout situation. Even if they don't have puck possession and they're defending, for the most part their positioning is really good and they do it with integrity.

It's the same thing with the Lightning: five-man units when they're defending and five-man units when they're attacking.

You can say you want your teams to play fast, but it starts with your goaltending and five-man units in all zones, and your "D" need to be mobile. The Rangers and Lightning have that, and it's no surprise they lead the League in goal differential.

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